World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007 - 05/12/2007 - 2R 3R - NSW Parliament Page 1 of 10

Home » Hansard & Papers » Legislative Council » 5 December 2007 » Full Day Hansard Transcript » Item 44 of 57 » Amendment Bill 2007

About this Item Speakers - Roozendaal The Hon Eric; Mason-Cox The Hon Matthew; Rhiannon Ms Lee; President; Ficarra The Hon Marie; Nile Reverend the Hon Fred Business - Bill, Second Reading, Third Reading, Motion

WORLD YOUTH DAY AMENDMENT BILL 2007 Page: 5092

Second Reading

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL (Minister for Roads, and Minister for Commerce) [9.21 p.m.], on behalf of the Hon. John Della Bosca: I move: That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

New South Wales has a well-deserved reputation for successfully hosting large-scale international events. The 2003 Rugby World Cup, and the 2000 Olympic Games and Paralympics Games, were recognised as great successes and enhanced the reputation of and Sydney. In July 2008 Sydney will again be the centre of international attention when it hosts . His Holiness Benedict XVI named Sydney as the host city for World Youth Day 2008 in 2005. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, with the support of the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments and the city of Sydney, led the delegation that secured this event.

World Youth Day is a series of international and Australian events aimed at young people aged between 16 and 35 years from around the world, culminating with a vigil and to be celebrated by the Pope at on 20 July 2008. It is estimated that up to 500,000 people will attend the papal mass, many of them from overseas. This is a unique event. It is larger in scale than the Olympics, with higher international numbers participating in the event. The event is unticketed so planning is based on crowd modelling and analysis of previous World Youth Day events as well as known registrations of pilgrims.

Analysis of previous World Youth Days indicates that the staging of such events is logistically challenging. The crowd will be fluid and spontaneous. The event will comprise various activities across the Sydney central business district and metropolitan area over the course of a week. There will also be large movements of people into and out of Sydney before and after the event. Previous World Youth Days in other cities have highlighted how challenging it is to manage an event of this nature. The New South Wales Government wants to demonstrate that an event such as World Youth Day can be well managed. I believe that New South Wales has the necessary skills and experience to do this.

The New South Wales Government is committed to ensuring the success of the event and managing its overall impact on Sydney, the community and the taxpayer. The bill will ensure that the New South Wales Government is able to meet this commitment and that the necessary support and services will be available to assist in the management and planning of the event.

As the House is aware, Randwick racecourse will be the venue for the overnight vigil and final mass of World Youth Day. Previous papal masses in 1995, 1986 and 1970 have also been held at Randwick racecourse. The excellent public transport options and the ability to accommodate the expected crowds of people make Randwick racecourse the best and really only option for hosting the event again in 2008.

Approximately 350,000 people will be accommodated at Randwick racecourse with the balance at nearby Centennial Park. The more moderate overnight weather conditions during winter at Randwick, when compared to western Sydney, also make the site more suitable for the evening vigil on the Saturday night before the final mass.

The New South Wales Government established the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority in 2006 to plan, co-ordinate and provide Government services for World Youth Day 2008. The authority is working together with other Government agencies and the Local Organising Committee of the to ensure public safety and security, and the provision of sufficient public transport and accommodation for participants so that

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the staging of World Youth Day 2008 is also a success with minimal disruption to the everyday functioning of Sydney and minimal disruption to the operation of Randwick racecourse.

The authority has developed strong working relationships with the Church's event organiser, WYD 2008, as well as partner agencies and key stakeholders. Planning for the delivery of Government services for the event is well underway, including the securing of the 3 key venues and logistical support. The Australian Jockey Club is the lessee of Randwick racecourse. Negotiations have been ongoing with the Australian Jockey Club for some time for access to the site, and a heads of agreement between the New South Wales Government and the Australian Jockey Club for the use of the site was reached on 14 November 2007.

This heads of agreement covers a range of compensation for the use of Randwick racecourse to a value of approximately $40 million, with the Commonwealth Government contributing half. It will bring lasting benefits to the Australian Jockey Club and the New South Wales racing industry, with a significant amount of money going towards upgrading facilities at Rosehill and Warwick Farm racecourses. The agreement will assist in ensuring a highly successful World Youth Day event at Randwick racecourse and a successful 2008 Spring Racing Carnival.

I acknowledge the critical bipartisan assistance of the Federal Government in securing this agreement.

The bill will facilitate the use of Randwick racecourse for World Youth Day events. The bill makes it clear that the Australian Jockey Club, its chairman and committee are authorised to use or permit the use of Randwick racecourse for World Youth Day, and to enter into agreements with the State of New South Wales for the use of Randwick racecourse. The bill will allow the Minister to give the authority, and other persons authorised by the authority, a right to enter Randwick racecourse and to carry out works there for the purposes of World Youth Day.

Regulations will be able to be made to set up a Randwick Racecourse Project Steering Committee to assist the authority in its planning and management role for the use of Randwick racecourse. The committee may include representatives of various stakeholders.

Directions will be able to be issued to persons or bodies prescribed by regulation in aid of the agreement or to enable the site to be used for the purposes of World Youth Day. This will also assist in the return of the site to the racing industry to host the 2008 Spring Racing Carnival. The Government will only use this power on a discretionary basis. It has been included in the bill in case of significant disruptions or interference with the preparations or staging of the event or restoration of the site for the 2008 Spring Racing Carnival.

Importantly, a regulation will first need to be made to prescribe persons or bodies who may be issued a direction, and that regulation will be subject to disallowance by Parliament. It will not be a criminal offence to contravene the directions, but they may be enforced through civil proceedings brought by the authority in the Supreme Court. The authority will be able to apply for urgent injunctions, should that be necessary, to ensure the event will not be disrupted. It is hoped that no such action will be necessary. The conditions attached to authorisations issued by the authority for access to Randwick racecourse are also enforceable in the same manner.

It will be an offence to delay or obstruct a person lawfully entering Randwick racecourse or carrying out works there for World Youth Day. It will also be an offence to damage the works without lawful excuse.

Other proposed amendments in the bill will assist in the general management and co-ordination of World Youth Day.

The bill will also restrict the use of air space, aerial advertising and advertising on buildings and structures in and around specified World Youth Day venues and facilities. These restrictions are in line with the restrictions imposed during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It is necessary to restrict the air space over key World Youth Day venues and facilities to ensure the security and amenity of the Pope and the participants. Aircraft will be prohibited from entering the restricted airspace without permission from Air Services , excluding aircraft being used for emergencies, police or military reasons.

The restrictions on advertising will protect important commercial relationships between the event organiser and its business partners. Advertising generally will be prohibited on buildings or structures at the specified sites, unless it has been approved by the authority. Prohibited advertising is to be removed by owners or occupiers of the specified sites. These provisions form key aspects to provide clean venues and prevent ambush marketing, and they are consistent with the provisions for the Sydney Olympic Games.

Under the World Youth Day Act 2006 the World Youth Day period is currently 1 to 31 July 2008. During this period certain powers can be exercised and various activities are prohibited, including in relation to the use of illegal car parks, selling prescribed articles, using community land, removing unattended vehicles, road closures and using restricted traffic lanes. This time period will be enough for most operational purposes, but

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to ensure that there is an ability to extend the period, should it become necessary, the bill enables the period to be extended by regulation. Contracted bus operators for regular passenger services will be required to provide sufficient services for World Youth Day events in accordance with the provisions of existing contractual arrangements. The Director General of the Ministry of Transport may direct the operator to provide such services as the Director General determines are necessary for World Youth Day events, and may determine a price or prices for such services. This will be required only when a negotiated outcome between the Director General and the contract holder cannot be reached. It is a discretionary power which the Director General may use if required. Again, we do not expect that those powers will be needed. In addition the bill extends the period during which planning approval will not be required for temporary structures installed for the purposes of World Youth Day events and facilities. Currently, if the structures are removed by 1 August 2008, no planning approval will be required as long as the authority has provided permission for the structure. The bill extends this period to 1 September 2008 as the current deadline may not provide enough time to remove all the temporary structures from World Youth Day venues and facilities.

The bill will also allow members of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service to assist the authority, other Government agencies and the New South Wales Police Force in the delivery of services for World Youth Day events. They may assist with services such as crowd management and traffic or pedestrian control, as long as the Commissioner of the Rural Fire Service or Director General of the State Emergency Service has agreed to that assistance.

The authority can currently issue directions to Government agencies in relation to transport functions. However, the authority's co-ordination functions extend beyond the transport area to other areas where it is involved in the planning, development and management of the Government's commitment to World Youth Day.

The bill extends the authority's ability to co-ordinate Government functions by enabling the Minister to direct prescribed Government agencies to comply with a direction or request from the authority.

The measures in the bill will facilitate the use of Randwick Racecourse for World Youth Day. They will ensure tight timeframes can be met in preparing Randwick Racecourse for the event and in the clean-up and restoration of the site afterwards. The bill will also further improve the Government's ability to plan, manage and co-ordinate Government services to support World Youth Day.

I commend the bill to the House.

The Hon. MATTHEW MASON-COX [9.21 p.m.]: I lead for the Opposition in debate on the World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007. The purpose of the bill is to amend the World Youth Day Act 2006 to enable the use of Randwick Racecourse for World Youth Day, to set up a committee to plan and manage the event at the site, to expand the functions of the Government's World Youth Day Coordination Authority, and to implement advertising and aerial restrictions similar to those that applied during the Olympic Games.

The background to World Youth Day is that in 2005 the Holy Father announced that Sydney would be the host city for the event from 15 to 20 July 2008. World Youth Day 2008 will involve a series of events aimed at young people aged from 16 and up to 35 years. Approximately 500,000 people from around the world are expected to attend a Mass said by the Holy Father on 20 July at Randwick Racecourse.

The local organising committee for World Youth Day is chaired by His Eminence Cardinal and includes Australian Bishops, State Government representatives and Federal parliamentary representatives. I note that the New South Wales Leader of the Opposition is a member of that committee. I commend the committee for all its fine work in organising this important event. Randwick Racecourse was chosen by the committee in December 2006 as the site for the event. However, the Australian Jockey Club agreed to the use of the site earlier this month only after a $41 million compensation deal was reached, the cost of which is being split by the State and Federal governments.

The State Government introduced the World Youth Day Act 2006 to establish the World Youth Day Coordination Authority. However, the authority's powers are related predominantly to traffic and transport coordination. The bill seeks to amend the Act to give the coordinating authority greater powers to direct other agencies, such as the State Emergency Service, to assist with crowd control and when doctors are administering first aid. These expanded powers also are likely to assist the World Youth Day Coordination Authority, and therefore the Deputy Premier, in overcoming any hurdles that may be encountered as a result of protracted negotiations between the parties.

The Opposition has consulted with key stakeholders affected by this bill. The private bus industry is concerned that parts of the bill relating to bus services are heavy-handed. The bill provides that the Director General of the Ministry of Transport will be given the authority to direct private bus operators as he deems necessary and for the

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director general to have the authority to determine the price for those services. The Bus and Coach Association has been engaged in regular dialogue with the Ministry of Transport and World Youth Day officials to arrange additional transport services for the event. They were confident that negotiations were progressing well and that the planning and delivery of additional services in accordance with the requirements specified would be efficient and provide value for money.

In spite of that contact, the Bus and Coach Association was not aware that this bill was being introduced until the Opposition consulted the association regarding its provisions: indeed, the association was shocked to learn of the bill's content. The Bus and Coach Association is strongly supportive of World Youth Day and is eager to promote the benefits of public transport. However, the association is uncomfortable with the weight of authority given to the Government in coordinating bus services. The executive director of the Bus and Coach Association, Darryl Mellish, said: The World Youth Day Amendment Bill gives the Director-General unfettered power to override existing contracts and require provision of services at the DG's direction and at rates determined by the DG. There is no balance of acting reasonably or on normal commercial terms The Association considers that the best way to achieve the most effective transport results for World Youth Day is to work in partnership with the transport providers and not to dictate what they will do and what they'll be paid.

A chief concern of the bus industry is that bus operators should be paid per hour, rather than per kilometre. The Bus and Coach Association says that the event does not lend itself to a kilometre rate as time delays are expected. With 500,000 people arriving in Sydney to attend this important event, that is a very reasonable expectation. A kilometre rate would not cover the cost of providing the service expected.

It is a shame that the Minister for Transport, who is also the Minister in charge of World Youth Day, has not been understanding in his approach to these issues. He has simply stared down the bus industry, hence the introduction of the World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007. It is very easy for the Minister to negotiate when legislation gives him power to ride roughshod over the Bus and Coach Association's reasonable commercial rights. Nonetheless, World Youth Day is a major event and the Opposition will not oppose the bill. My comments are intended to bring these matters to the attention of the House.

It is worth noting that the local organising committee for World Youth Day 2008 is broadly supportive of the bill. Racing New South Wales is pleased that the racing industry will benefit from adequate compensation for the use of Randwick Racecourse prior to the Spring Carnival. Racing New South Wales is also pleased that the legislation provides for the racecourse to be excluded from liability associated with crowds attending World Youth Day events. Those matters have been dealt with in the bill most appropriately.

Honourable members may be aware that it is 223 days until World Youth Day. The occasion will be the first visit to Australia by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. There is certainly a sense of anticipation building within the community as the event draws closer. I am able to speak personally about preparations at a parish level. In the city of Queanbeyan I am a member of the Catholic parish. I inform the House of the strong awareness among the parish community and the range of events that have been planned to prepare for World Youth Day. The parish is undertaking a fundraising drive involving a whole range of activities, such as car boot sales, hot cross bun drives and other activities that bring the community together and ameliorate the costs of such an enormous and significant event.

In my own parish of Queanbeyan, a World Youth Day Committee has been active for some time in coordinating events of the parish and encouraging members of the parish to billet pilgrims who will be arriving in Australia in 2008. The billeting program is up and running in many regions of the State, and thousands of pilgrims will stay in people's homes. Having been an overseas traveller for a number of years in my youth, I am able to say that there is nothing better when visiting a foreign country than staying in someone's home because it enables a traveller to appreciate firsthand the culture of the country being visited. That will be a very special experience for those who are coming to Australia for the event as well as for those who will host the visit of people from a range of cultures.

Public awareness of the event has been heightened by the Journey of the Cross and across the nation. The cross and the icon are accompanied by an indigenous message stick as an invitation to the indigenous youth of Australia to come to World Youth Day in July 2008. They will pass through every diocese in every State of Australia, and awareness will grow as the day approaches. There are 223 days to go. The days are being counted off, one at a time, outside St Marys Cathedral in the middle of the city.

World Youth Day in July 2008 will be one of the largest events that New South Wales, and indeed Australia, has ever hosted. Think of the 500,000 people who will arrive in our fair city for the World Youth Day celebrations. It will be in an absolutely enormous logistical exercise. I congratulate the Government and the organising committee on providing strong support, both financial and logistical, to this important event. The World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007 will act to facilitate further the successful hosting of World Youth Day. Accordingly, the Opposition does not oppose the bill.

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Ms LEE RHIANNON [9.30 p.m.]: The Greens will not oppose the World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007 but we object to the river of money and resources flowing to this religious event and the disruption that it is set to cause Sydneysiders.

[Interruption]

I note the groans from the Opposition benches. I would have thought Opposition members would at least try to show some concern about the expenditure of public money. This is a chance for them to show leadership on the issue. Opposition members could welcome World Youth Day, as the Greens do, but urge responsible financial management. Public money should not be allowed to flood out the gates because the Government is not doing its job properly. There seems to be no end to the extent to which the Government will fall over itself to promote and support World Youth Day. It appears that money is no object. The main purpose of the bill is to smooth the way for hosting World Youth Day in July 2008, including the papal mass and vigil at Randwick racecourse.

Of course the Greens are happy for the Catholic Church to hold this event in Sydney. But the Catholic Church, not the public, should have to foot the bulk of the costs. We do not want this event to be a huge drain on the public purse. We know that there will be some costs but they are getting out of hand. It is pretty extraordinary that all the economic rationalists sitting on the leather couches in this place do not seem to appreciate that. The Government must draw the line somewhere as to how much support it will lend the World Youth Day event. But if this bill is any indication, the Government is simply not prepared to do that.

The deal negotiated with the World Youth Day organisers includes compensation for the use of Randwick racecourse to the value of approximately $40 million. The Federal Government will contribute half this amount. The Greens argue that the Catholic Church, not the Australian public, should pay the $40 million compensation to the racing industry for giving up Randwick racecourse for World Youth Day. Let us remember why the public will be slugged with this $40 million bill. We would not incur that cost if the Catholic Church were willing to use another venue. Its insistence on holding the event at Randwick racecourse, and disrupting racing activities there, has blown out the cost to $40 million. The Catholic Church will reap massive benefits from holding the event in Sydney, but it could have gained the same benefits by using another, less costly venue.

Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile: Where?

Ms LEE RHIANNON: Eighteen venues were studied. When I questioned Ministers about the issue during estimates committee hearings they said that the Catholic Church wanted to hold the event at Randwick because it was where previous had given their sermons. The Deputy Premier, Mr Watkins, also said that it would be too cold to hold the event in the west. He admitted that after he had made great play of the fact that it was a pilgrimage, to which I responded that if it was a pilgrimage that should be part of the deal.

The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: What would you know? You're an atheist!

Ms LEE RHIANNON: Members are waking up. The Minister for Roads thinks I know nothing because I am an atheist. I obviously dispute that claim but I am happy to have woken members. Perhaps we will now have a better debate.

The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: Do you dispute that you're an atheist or that you know nothing?

Ms LEE RHIANNON: I dispute everything that comes out of the Minister's mouth, that is for sure. Members were flagging after yesterday's long sitting so perhaps we will now have a better debate. This legislation certainly needs thorough attention. The $40 million compensation bill has been made public but the full cost to taxpayers of accommodating the estimated 600,000 visitors to World Youth Day is not known. When these massive compensation bills come in it could be a different story. The Government claims that World Youth Day will inject $150 million into the New South Wales economy. But the reality is that World Youth Day may end up draining, not boosting, the State's economy. Sydney faces major disruptions during the event period, which now extends from 1 July to 31 July 2008.

The Hon. Jennifer Gardiner: We're used to that every day.

Ms LEE RHIANNON: I acknowledge the interjection from the Coalition benches. All those members who are singing the praises of World Youth Day now should contribute to the debate and tell us where the financial benefits will come from because at the moment it seems that all the money will go out the door. The Greens are simply asking the Government to draw a line in the sand.

The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: What about the spiritual benefits?

Ms LEE RHIANNON: The Minister makes a good point, and I look forward to his contribution to the debate.

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The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: So do I.

Ms LEE RHIANNON: It does not sound like the Minister has prepared his speech! Sydney faces major disruption during the event period, which now extends from 1 July to 31 July 2008. We now know that parks, public spaces, roads and street parking could be co-opted into the World Youth Day arrangements and come under the control of the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority for well beyond the month of July.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I ask members to exercise a spirit of goodwill and cease interjecting.

Ms LEE RHIANNON: I find remarkable the restrictions on air space and the restricted use of aerial advertising and advertising on buildings in and around the World Youth Day venues and facilities. It is staggering that this Labor Government is prepared to go to such lengths to help the Catholic Church fulfil its contractual arrangements with its World Youth Day commercial sponsors. Since when does a government pass legislation to protect commercial relationships between two private parties? The economic rationalists who are about to vote for the bill will be signing off on legislation that will disadvantage companies that are already advertising in much of the public space that will be taken over for the event. They really have not thought it through. The bill states that prohibited advertising is to be removed by owners or occupiers of the specified sites, and: enables a person authorised by the WYD Co-ordination Authority to obliterate or remove that unauthorised advertising material at certain sites. The Hon. Marie Ficarra: That's right; it is unauthorised.

Ms LEE RHIANNON: It is authorised until World Youth Day, when the space is taken over. Legitimate advertising will suddenly be wiped out. Some of the Liberal Party's big donors could well be disadvantaged suddenly. Will security guards patrol World Youth Day venues to check for unauthorised advertising? Will fines be issued to unauthorised advertisers in the World Youth Day precinct? It is unclear exactly what powers these appointed officials will have. I hope the Minister will answer those questions when he responds to the debate. The World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority will be able to: co-ordinate government functions by enabling the direction of a prescribed government agency to comply with a request or direction by WYD Co-ordination Authority. Does this mean that the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority will take full control of public spaces like Centennial Park? Will Centennial Park be closed? There are so many unanswered questions. Then we turn to transport. Transport problems will surely impact on the whole of Sydney, not just the eastern suburbs.

The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: There's going to be 600,000 people in town, what do you reckon?

Ms LEE RHIANNON: Exactly. The Government should start telling people about it and making arrangements. At the moment the Minister wants to send buses from all over Sydney to service this one event. Under the bill any bus operator that is currently contracted to the Government will be required to provide services to World Youth Day events. I acknowledge the Minister's interjection that people attending the event require transport. Of course they will. The rest of Sydney still needs to keep moving, and business still needs to operate.

The Hon. Marie Ficarra: They will avoid the area.

Ms LEE RHIANNON: That wonderful interjection. Is the Hon. Marie Ficarra proposing a shutdown from Randwick across all the eastern suburbs? When I questioned the Minister he said people will be walking from Bondi Junction railway station, down through Centennial Park, from Greens Square or from Central—a massive operation. From where will the buses come? They will come from Illawarra, Newcastle, Western Sydney—those areas that the Government takes for granted and will exploit when it suits it. What will happen to the existing routes that those buses service? We will definitely have traffic chaos in the city as usual and the eastern suburbs and public transport disruptions will occur across Greater Sydney.

There are already totally insufficient bus services to Western Sydney. The Government has failed to act on this problem for years, and yet it is making special provisions for World Youth Day that could continue beyond the month of July. The Greens call for some restraint in the State's support for this religious event. The event will cause major disruption in Sydney life, and the true cost to the public may make the event go down in history as a massive drain on the public purse. The Greens do no oppose the bill, despite our reservations about the enormous cost of the event to the public of New South Wales. The Greens call on the Government to come clean and inform the public of the true extent of its generosity towards financing this religious celebration, the disruption that will occur and how will it respond? The public have a right to know not only the number of days until the event shown with flickering lights in College Street but what will happen and how will it impact on people. If the Government does not inform us one wonders what it has to hide? Does it know it will be disruptive and it does not want to let on?

The Hon. MARIE FICARRA [9.42 p.m.]: It is pleasing to see bipartisan support for this bill—except the Greens which is fairly predictable—and the good will shown by our Randwick Racecourse community and the general Sydney community in arriving at this point. New South Wales has a proud history in the staging of large and

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important international events, notably the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics in 2000, the 2003 World Rugby Cup and also previous papal masses in 1970, 1986 and 1995 successfully held at Randwick racecourse.

The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: And APEC?

The Hon. MARIE FICARRA: Yes, and the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting, that is correct. It is understandable that the Vatican, the Pope and the organising committee of the World Youth Day wish to return to this famous and spectacular and comfortable venue to enable Sydneysiders to enjoy this week-long event, and in particular the mass. This bill will amend the World Youth Day Act 2006 to enable the use of Randwick Racecourse for the event and to set up a committee to further plan and manage the site, to expand the functions of the Government's World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority and to implement advertising and aerial restrictions similar to those enacted during the Sydney Olympics. This bill extends the authority's power to coordinate Government agencies to comply with its directions or requests in relation to the smooth operation of World Youth Day 2007.

The bill gives the governing authority greater powers to direct other agencies such as the State Emergency Service and police in crowd and traffic control and medical officers in administering first aid and medical attention. The provisions in this bill will encourage clean venues, close down illegal car parks, remove unattended and obstructionist vehicles, better prevent rogue marketing and thus ensure only the selling of authorised articles associated with World Youth Day, and arrange road closures where necessary and the use of restricted traffic lanes and so on. Such measures were essential during the Sydney Olympics and we certainly learnt quite a lot from the successful hosting of that international event.

We proudly acknowledge that Randwick racecourse can accommodate large crowds of people, and excellent public transport facilities will make it an ideal venue to host such a significant event for millions of people around the world, especially our young people. World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from 15 to 20 July 2008. Organised by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day gathers a large number of young people from around the world to build hope and friendships between people from different continents and cultures. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named Sydney as the host city for World Youth Day 2008 in 2005. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has done a marvellous job, together with both the New South Wales Government and the former Federal Government, in being part of a delegation that secured this event for our great city. It is pleasing that the newly elected Federal Government will continue to fully support the event.

It should be acknowledged that almost $41 million of compensation to be given to the Australian Jockey Club will be returned to the racing industry, as it should, to be used to upgrade facilities at the Rosehill and Warwick Farm racecourses, as well as return the Randwick site promptly post the World Youth Day activities to ensure the successful hosting of the 2008 Spring Racing Carnival. Such events bring multi millions of dollars to Sydney and we are proud of it. This compensation was equally funded by the New South Wales Government and the Federal Government.

International World Youth Day will be marked by a week-long series of events attended by the Pope and hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world. World Youth Day 2008 will mark the first visit to Australia by Pope Benedict XVI and hundreds of thousands of young people are looking forward to welcoming him to the "Southern Land of the Holy Spirit", as Australia was originally referred to by the early Portuguese explorer, Captain Pedro Ferdinand de Quiros. World Youth Day was an initiative of the late Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul is said to have been inspired by massive gatherings of young people in Rome celebrating the Youth Jubilee in 1984 and the United Nations International Year of Youth in 1985. The first World Youth Day was held in Rome in 1986 on Palm Sunday and has been celebrated at a Diocesan level on every Palm Sunday since. Every two to three years, an international gathering celebrates World Youth Day in a different host city from around the world—Cologne, Buenos Aires, Czestochowa, Paris, Toronto, Manila and Denver have all been host cities over the past twenty years.

Pope John Paul wanted to bring together young Catholics from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis. It is great that this event has now become very ecumenical: it is an event not just for Catholics but for young people from anywhere in the world. We are delighted when everybody comes together to declare their spiritual beliefs in God and their strengths. Pope John Paul saw World Youth Day as a way to reach out to the next generation and to rejuvenate the church and to ensure that the core teachings of Christ are passed on.

The Catholic Church lists four main goals for Australia as host nation: to provide a moving and sanctifying pilgrimage in faith; to provide a forum for youth to experience the power of the Holy Spirit; to assist the rediscovery of the centrality of the Word and Sacraments in the lives of young people; to enable youth to be witnesses to Christ. At the most recent World Youth Day in 2005 in Cologne, the German people saw a witness of faith, hope and love on an unbelievable scale when it welcomed 435,000 registered pilgrims from 197 countries and more than 1.2 million people attended the Final Mass.

This bill will give the Minister the authority to allow for necessary works to be carried out on Randwick

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Racecourse. There has been a great deal of cooperation between the Australian Jockey Club and the organisers of this event, chiefly the Catholic Church together with Government instrumentalities and they are to be congratulated. Final agreement for use of the site was achieved only recently, on 24 November 2007. The measures to be proclaimed in this bill will allow for the tight time frames needed to meet expectations for this great event for our city and nation, and the bill will allow for the timely clean-up and restoration to occur after the event.

The bill will improve the Government's ability to plan, manage, coordinate and deliver services to support World Youth Day 2008 to make it an outstanding success socially, financially and emotionally for Sydneysiders and visitors to our great city. Uppermost in the minds of all the parties organising this event has been public safety and security of all persons attending events, whilst also giving consideration to minimising the public disruption for Sydneysiders not involved in World Youth Day activities. Planning has been underway for the past two years to get to this point, and all parties involved are to be commended for their cooperation and good spirit to Sydney, which will be showcased once again on the international scene.

One criticism, however, has been mentioned by the Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox regarding the lack of full consultation with an important stakeholder in terms of transportation for the event—the Bus and Coach Association. The association's executive and members feel that their concerns about some aspects of the bill have not been fully canvassed, in particular the setting of prices for transport services as determined by the Director General of the Ministry of Transport when a negotiated position cannot be reached. Obviously more constructive two-way dialogue is needed as soon as possible.

More than 500,000 people will attend the Papal Mass on 20 July 2008—I hope to be one of them, with people from my congregation from St Aloysius Church in Cronulla. Many overseas tourists will contribute greatly to our State economy, and it will be a delight to see them all here enjoying our great country and our great city. Approximately 350,000 people will be accommodated inside Randwick Racecourse, with the remainder in nearby Centennial Park. The event will rival the Sydney Olympics in terms of the number of people participating in any one event and the number of overseas visitors expected.

The event will include other activities across Sydney central business district and throughout the nation, gearing up for a complex logistical, as well as a deeply spiritually rewarding, occasion. The goodwill shown by Sydneysiders in offering to accommodate up to 40 per cent of overseas and country visitors in their homes and the number of volunteers to be associated with World Youth Day reminds me of the fantastic job that Sydney did during the Olympics in 2000. Our city's generosity of spirit and the ability to get behind such large events has become a model for the world, and indeed holds Sydney in good steed for future international events.

World Youth Day 2008 will help Sydney to become a city in the international spotlight again, as it was for the 2000 Olympic Games. The New South Wales economy will benefit greatly from the influx of new visitors and from the World Youth Day pilgrims who continue to tour around Australia in the time preceding and following World Youth Day. I congratulate the Australian Catholic Church and all the organisers of World Youth Day 2008 and wish them every success.

Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE [9.53 p.m.]: The Christian Democratic Party is pleased to support the World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007, the object of which is to make various amendments to the World Youth Day Act 2006 to make further provision in relation to the planning, coordination and delivery of services for World Youth Day 2008 and related events. I note the Greens' criticism of World Youth Day. That reminded me that the Greens usually defend criticism of the annual homosexual Mardi Gras by drawing attention to the number of people who come to Sydney for the event and the economic benefit of that influx of people to Sydney as a result of money spent on accommodation, food and so on. That amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars. The Greens apparently do not make the same calculation in regard to World Youth Day.

I know it is difficult to get suitable venues in Sydney. I recall when I was involved in organising Billy Graham in 1979 we were able to book the Randwick Racecourse to accommodate the 100,000 or so people attending those meetings. Earlier I had to organise meetings for as many as 150,000 people, and the only place I could get to accommodate them was the Royal Showgrounds and the neighbouring Sydney Cricket Ground. So I sympathise with the Catholic Church and its organising committee in terms of finding a suitable venue for such a large event to accommodate up to 600,000 people. I congratulate them on the success they have achieved to date.

It seems that the Australian Jockey Club could have been more cooperative in working with the Catholic Church. I have no evidence for this, but I sense that that some people involved in the Australian Jockey Club and associated organisations may have thought they could get some money out of this and decided to make life difficult for the Catholic Church. That is why we finish up with an amount of $40 million to be paid. It is only through contributions made by the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments that the event is able to proceed. I simply ask the Australian Jockey Club to review the costs that it claims must be met to determine whether some might be a little exorbitant.

As members have said, World Youth Day will be hosting the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. It is the first time he will

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have visited Sydney so obviously it will be an exciting time for all Catholics and other Christians in Australia. People will be coming from other parts of the Commonwealth to attend the events. The Catholic Church has been working closely with a number of other religious organisations to ensure that there is a spirit of cooperation, rather than of competition. The World Youth Day organisers have already hosted an information evening for more than 15 Australian Jewish leaders. They have been working with Stepan Kerkyasharian, the chairperson of the Community Relations Commission, and they have had briefing sessions with Australian Muslim leaders and church leaders of other Christian faiths in Sydney. So at least they all understand what is happening, whether or not they physically attend the events. I doubt whether members of the Jewish community and the Muslim community will attend the events, but at least there will be a spirit of cooperation and goodwill while the events are being held in Sydney.

I congratulate Bishop Fisher, who had been showing leadership by briefing the rabbis and representatives of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish schools and services. It is difficult to estimate how many Catholics there are in Sydney or New South Wales, but it is certainly well over 25 per cent of the population— some say 26 per cent. Indeed, Catholic may be the single largest Christian denomination in this State, if not in Australia, as Anglican numbers have fallen in recent years. So the Catholic Church can now claim to be the largest religious organisation in New South Wales and in Australia.

The bill deals with a number of practical matters. It allows a negotiated outcome with the Australian Jockey Club by allowing the Australian Jockey Club to enter into an agreement for the purposes of World Youth Day. It allows for Randwick Racecourse to be used for the events, and gives authorised persons the statutory right to access and carry out works at Randwick Racecourse for World Youth Day 2008. It also imposes some restrictions on advertising. Obviously World Youth Day will have sponsors, so there needs to be some control of that. It will also ensure that contracted bus operators provide sufficient services, and that the World Youth Day Coordination Authority has the ability to coordinate government functions by enabling the direction of a prescribed government agency to comply with a request or direction from the World Youth Day Coordination Authority. A five-person Vatican delegation has visited Sydney to view the preparations. Apparently they were very pleased with the progress made. All is in order and proceeding according to plan. We need to pray for God's blessing of this very special event in the heart of our city.

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL (Minister for Roads, and Minister for Commerce) [10.01 p.m.], in reply: I thank honourable members for their contributions to the debate, to which I listened with intent and intensity. The World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007 will facilitate the use of Randwick Racecourse for World Youth Day 2008, including the papal mass and vigil. The Government considers that the bill will allow the necessary planning for the events at Randwick Racecourse and other World Youth Day events to proceed. The Government acknowledges the heads of agreement reached with the Australian Jockey Club and intends to honour that agreement and the subsequent detailed access agreement.

The powers in this amending bill are not intended to overturn those agreements. The Government is of the firm view that these agreements represent the good will of all parties that will be needed to deliver the event. The powers will be established to be used only in exceptional circumstances. They powers are to be implemented by way of regulation for prescribed persons or parties, that could be anyone who is attempting to disrupt or frustrate the Government's objective of delivering a successful event and returning Randwick to the Australian Jockey Club for training and racing.

This is in explicit acknowledgment of the importance that both World Youth Day and the racing industry have to the State of New South Wales. The Government acknowledges that the Ministry of Transport and the Bus and Coach Association have a good working relationship and that they are currently in negotiation over the provision of bus services for World Youth Day. Again, it is anticipated that the Government will honour any such negotiated outcome between the ministry and bus operators. These measures are intended to provide certainty to the event, not to circumvent that appropriate negotiation process. We need to be sure that we have sufficient buses to get people around the city during that week. The public transport system is central to the success of the event.

There is only one other potential alternative venue for the event in Sydney, and that is . However, that venue is not capable of meeting all the necessary requirements to hold the event, particularly in relation to line of sight and transport capacity. Sydney Olympic Park also has a lower average temperature than that of Randwick, and that is an important matter to take into account for people staying overnight during winter after the evening vigil.

Transport facilities at Sydney Olympic Park can carry only approximately 45,000 people per hour, whereas transport facilities at Central can transport in excess of 90,000 people per hour. Randwick Racecourse is more suitable than Sydney Olympic Park for the event and can more easily accommodate the expected 220,000 people who will camp overnight for the vigil. The Greens raised the issue of advertising. It is pleasing that the Greens are so concerned about commercial advertisers and the impact this may have on them.

The Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox: It is refreshing.

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The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: It is refreshing, I did not think the Greens would support it. Advertising material will be prohibited on buildings or structures in areas identified by the ministry by gazette notice during a specified period, unless the advertising has been authorised by the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority. Aerial advertising within sight of Randwick Racecourse, Burragoroo, and other sites prescribed by regulation will also be prohibited during World Youth Day events unless permitted by the authority. The same types of restrictions on advertising were applied during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the Australian Grand Prix in Victoria. The restrictions are intended to prevent ambush marketing such as signs and posters put up at the last minute to ambush World Youth Day events. Sponsors will be clearly visible from World Youth Day sites during the event.

World Youth Day will be a huge event for Sydney, which has hosted a number of significant events in recent times. Approximately 600,000 people, or maybe more, will converge on Sydney to attend the event. There will be some challenges for the Sydney public transport system, and for management of road and traffic issues. This fantastic event will be celebrated in Sydney, and will put Sydney at the focus of the world. I understand that the final mass of the previous World Youth Day attracted a television audience of more than one billion people— vindication enough for the interest in this event. The Government, it agencies and those involved in the racing industry and the Catholic Church are working closely together to meet the challenges of staging this event. Walking will play a key part in the event; people will converge on the final mass, walking from all directions. That great pilgrimage of people is part of the whole process. It will be an amazing time in Sydney, and a challenging time. I know that all members of the House, with the exception of one or two on the crossbench, are supportive of the event and what it will do for Sydney and for Australia. I commend the bill to the House.

Question—That this bill be now read a second time—put and resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Leave granted to proceed to the third reading of the bill forthwith.

Third Reading

Motion by the Hon. Eric Roozendaal agreed to: That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and returned to the Legislative Assembly without amendment.

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